PETER PILOTTO for Target - COMING SOON!!

Nobody loves a good designer collab more than me and EEEEEK! I'm super excited about this one! PETER PILOTTO for Target will be available on February 9th and will include women's apparel, accessories and swimwear, with prices from $14.99 to $79.99. There will also be a curated assortment of the limited-edition collection on Net-a-Porter.com. SOOOooo pumped! 

photo courtesy of Fashionista.com

The duo behind PETER PILOTTO have developed the line into one of London's most recognizable and coveted brands. They are known for complex and unique prints, textiles, colors and shapes. These pieces are extremely innovative and have such a bold voice. It's no surprise that they are head-turning and celebrity favorites! Here are some amazing examples of their past work:

Photos courtesy of FabSugar.com

And some of my favorites from the Target lookbook:

Dress in Purple Floral Print, $69.99
Shirt in Green Floral Print, $19.99

Moto Jacket in Blue Netting Print, $59.99
Cropped Sweater in White/Blue Print, $29.99
Short in Blue Netting Print, $29.99

Tee in Green Netting Print, $19.99

Jacquard Dress in Red Iris Print, $79.99

Beach Towel, $24.99

Swim Cover-Up in Green Floral Stripe Print, $34.99
Tote in Green Floral Print, $39.99
Pouches in Clear/Green Floral Print, $22.99

You can view the entire lookbook here and visit the Target landing page for the launch here. What do you think??? I am SO OVER winter right now and so many of these things are looking like a much needed breath of fresh air! I can't wait to fight the masses for them!! 

Online Shopping: Land's End Spring 2014 and Clearance

So, there are some places that I've always felt too cool to shop, and Land's End is one of them. Not sure exactly why, but all I've pictured from there is elastic waist pants and orthopedic shoes... LOL!

I've liked some basic things that I've bought for the girls from Land's End over the years. Last year I took a chance on a printed summer tank dress for me and wound up loving it. So, in the interest of having an open mind, I recently placed an order for a few of their new bathing suit pieces and some other bargains I found while looking around. If you use the awesome free service eBates, you get 1.5-3% back on your purchase. Land's End items can be returned to any Sears store if that's more convenient for you than mailing them.

I'm 5'9 and about 126 pounds. I'll include sizes for references! Here are the pieces I ordered and how they worked (or didn't!) for me:

 Sleeveless Heritage Jersey Dress, $59 (on sale for $24.99) 

Size 4. I thought this would be a cute piece year-round, with jean jacket and boots or with flat sandals. Trying it on, I was kind of meh. The fabric is a little stiff and the dress is unlined. The color wasn't really exciting to me for fall or spring.
Verdict: Return.

Paisley Holiday Party Dress, $160 (on sale for $49.99) 

Size 4. This dress was just okay for me. The fit was good and the slip liner was really nice. I just wasn't in love with it, though.
Verdict: Return.

Swim Pieces (I'm going to spare you and not try these on for the camera! LOL). I like to mix and match suits so I ordered random things:

Regular Beach Living Tapestry Bandeau Tunic Top, $65 - Size 4. The fit was off on this. It was soooo tight around the top. I even had skin bulges/muffin top in the armpit area. Not a good look! LOL!
Verdict: Return.

Regular SwimMates Medallion Boy Shorts, $39 -  Size Small. I loved this print but the fit was soooo weird. The fabric on the bottom of the back was very loose and didn't fit tight to my skin??? Um... not trying to have my cheeks hanging out, not at this stage of the game! Haha
Verdict: Return.

Regular Beach Living Paisley V-Veck Tankini Top, $55 -  Size 4. Okay, fit was off on this, too. Same size as the top above but this one has major baggy fabric on the boobs. Print is adorable, though!
Verdict: Return.

Sleeveless Cotton Jersey Floral Tunic Cover-Up, $29 

Size Small. Super cute! I am in love with this print and the soft easy dress will be great to throw on all summer long. Runs a little big, could probably do with a size down, but not going to mess with switching it out.
Verdict: Keep.

Eyelet Dress, $108 (on sale for $29.99)  

Size 4. I was so excited to catch this dress on sale because I'd had my eye on it since fall. Looks like a great piece for all year round, depending on what you do with it. But... um...you can't tell in the picture but the fit was a bit of a mess. Very short for me and HUGE around the bust. If I inhaled, it basically fell down. If I sized down, the back would be too short to be decent.
Verdict: Return.

Paisley Adjustable Swim Cover-up Tunic, $49

5" Paisley Poplin Shorts, $49 (on sale for $19.99)

Top size Small, shorts size 4. Okay, obvs would never wear these together, but I needed to put them on with something for a pic! The top is fantastic. Too short for much coverage in a coverup, but love the print, the fit and the quick dry fabric. The shorts are pretty perfect, too. Fun print and a good length for daily wear! Love!
Verdict: Keep both.

Cross Back Surplice Dress, $59 (on sale for $24.99)

So, the first picture is how this dress is supposed to be worn... and, well, it's kind of awkward in person. The shoulder seams look backwards? I turned it around and it made more sense to me but the tag is in the front that way. I don't know. Cute idea, especially with how much red I wear, but not for me. It could have used some lining, too.
Verdict: Return.

Short Sleeve Pattern Georgette Pintuck Dress, $98 (on sale for $32.99)

Another fun print and cheap enough that I won't feel bad if I don't wear it much! The length is a little weird, I might have it taken up some, but will be cute in summer with a big chunky necklace and high strappy sandals!
Verdict: Keep.

So I found a few things that I think I will really wear and love. All of the bright fun colors and prints in this box made me so happy!! Have you started shopping for spring and summer? What are you loving?? Can't wait for warmer weather to get here! 

Stitch Fix January 2013 Box Review, Stitch #2

Stitch Fix is a clothing service that sends you a box of pieces selected specifically for you by a stylist. You try everything on at home and mail back the pieces you don't want within three days in a pre-paid mailer. There is a $20 styling fee, which can be used as a credit towards any of the items you want to keep. If you keep nothing, you are out the $20 fee. If you keep everything, you get it all at a 25% discount (and then -$20 for the styling fee).

Stitch Fix has a very extensive questionnaire that covers everything from sizes and body measurements to price points and lifestyle. There is a form for you to review each item received and give your stylist comments and feedback, with the goal of Fix's becoming more and more tailored to your preferences over time! 

I was definitely a little lukewarm about my Stitch Fix #1, but gave them TONS of feedback and was excited to see what I got the second time around! Now, on to what I received in my January Fix! 

Here's first looks:

My first thoughts? OMG... WHERE is all the color and craziness I asked for??? I spent SO much time on my feedback telling them that I like COLOR and SPARKLE and FUN pieces. This box is definitely not that. I mentioned that I wear lots of red/black pieces for Louisville sports activities and maybe that's the only comment they listened to??? Even then, first looks make me think that these are the least interesting red and black pieces ever.... Ok. But you HAVE to try them on. That's part of the process! So on to the individual pieces.

Daniel Rainn Bilson Silk Pleat Tabsleeve Blouse, $78

Sorry for the red jeans with burgundy on top, that's just what I happened to be wearing! LOL! This top... OMG. Seriously. I thought I looked pregnant in it in the mirror and, looking at the picture above, it definitely looks like maternity wear. There could easily be a 6 month preggo belly in there. So unflattering and ridiculous. Fail.

41Hawthorn Elora Silk Button Down Collared Blouse, $78
and 

Kut From the Kloth Miranda Houndstooth Flocked Skinny Pant, $68

Another burgundy silk blouse?? Really?? So weird. This one was the right size on the label but was enormous on. And just really doesn't look like anything special. Maybe if I wore suits on the regular??? But I don't. And my profile makes that clear. So who knows. And the 41Hawthorne brand? I'm wondering if this is their house brand or something? 

These pants.... okay. I know I'm sounding so negative, but these things were horrible. The houndstooth print might have been a fun alternative to jeans in theory but these were awful, thick, stiff, velvet-like material. Seriously. Like velvet. And the fit was terrible. You can't tell from the photo, but the crotch was really long. Like, I literally could grab inches of fabric hanging down there. That in combination with skinny leg pants??? Not good. Fit and fabric comparable to what I'd expect from someplace like Kmart. Seriously.

Ravel Kevella Cross-Front Lace Detailed Top, $28 

Ok.... I was excited about the price of this one and was hoping I loved it! With the $20 styling fee I had already paid, it would only cost $8 to keep it. Then.... I put it on. WTF. The crossing drapey pieces in the front are soooo blousy and weird. I seriously looked pregnant again. See me cupping my baby in the second picture??? LOL! At this point the girls and I were all having a good laugh at these clothes. They thought the huge crotch on the pants was hilarious and were just totally confused by this third shirt with belly issues. My seven year old kept saying "Do they think you're pregnant????" OMG. Fail.

Mystree Portia Faux Suede Detailed Cardigan,  $58

Well... it's completely unexciting, but this is something that I will wear a lot. The faux leather detail on shoulders is nice and the fabric is super soft. 

So, I kept the cardigan, one piece out of five. If I had kept everything, my total cost, after the 25% discount, would have been $237.50. The quality, fit and innovation of this box was severley lacking. No way I would have gone out and paid $237.50 for this haul. It would have been arguably overpriced at half that. I wouldn't have bought the cardigan for $58 if I had seen it while shopping but I hated to lose the $20 fee I had paid by not keeping anything. 

I was totally disappointed by this box and didn't feel like they used to my feedback at all. If I get another offer to try Stitch Fix without paying the styling fee, I'll give it another shot. If not, I think I'll keep my $20 and just shop for myself.